My work story began when I was five years old, in my grandparent's blouse factory, turning sleeves right-side-out before shipping. From there I progressed through babysitting, a credit bureau, a department store and the finishing department of my father's blouse factory. After college, I went to work for Andersen Worldwide as a shipping clerk and graphic design filing assistant. By the time I left, I was a speechwriter for the firm's managing partners. Through the counsel of Andersen partners and the business they awarded me, I founded Spada Inc, a consulting practice, in 1990. I volunteered with the Global Data Portability Project and served on the boards of New College Institute, FundingSage and StartupHouse; the community advisory committees of Cardinal News and the Washington County Drug Court; the board of the Southwest Virginia Technology Council; the Board of Managers of the Presidio Community YMCA; the Presidio Restoration Advisory Board; the Saint Mary's College [Notre Dame, Indiana] President's National Alumnae Advisory Council; the board of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Chicago; and the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Chicago. From July 2017 through September 2019, I served a small community bank as its strategy lead. It then became a privilege to serve as an advisor to Virginia Delegate William Creed Wampler III, during his first months in office. Today I serve as Chief Strategy Officer and Director of External Relations for Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc., a nonstock corporation established in 1948 for the sole purpose of managing the endowment and real estate portfolio of Virginia Tech, now valued at $2.8 billion. VTF exists and operates as a separate, independent entity with its own officers and governing board -- managing, investing, and distributing private resources to advance Virginia Tech's mission and its strategic priorities. VTF's wholly owned for-profit subsidiary, Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, Inc., catalyzes commercialization and industry collaboration in Blacksburg, Newport News and Roanoke.